Clutch for holding glass articles while being finished



(No Model.)

W. J. WILKINSON. CLUTCH POR HOLDING GLASS ARTICLES WHILE BEING FINISHED.No. 571,255.

Patented Nov. 10, 1896.

Inventor, WeZZv'w/WJ. f/Mason, by Zzv'safneys Kiwa/W al y THE NonmsPETERS co. Puovaumo. wsmuamw. u c

VILLIAM J. VILKINSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLUTCH FOR HOLDING GLASSARTICLES WHILE BEING FINISHED.

l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,255, datedNovember 10, 1896.

Application filed October 23,1894. i Serial No. 526,726. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. WILKIN- SON, acitizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,have invented an ImprovedClutch for Holding Glass Articles while being Finished, of which thefollowing is a speciiication.

The object of my invention is to construct an improved mechanical clutchfor holding glass articles to be finished that will not disfigure thearticle in its grasp and which can be readily attached to or detachedfrom the rap at its opposite end.

same

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a view of my improvedglass-blow ers clutch. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, partlybroken away, showing the clutch closed. Fig. 3 is a side view, partly insection, showing the clutch open. Fig. 4 is an end view. Figs. 5, 6, 7,and 8 are detached perspective views of parts of the clutch. Fig. 9 is aview of a modification, and Fig. l0 is a diagram view.

In the manufacture of glass articles, such as globes for gas-Xtures andelectric-light fixtures, it is the common practice to iinish one end ofthe same while it is still held by the blowpipe. After this end has beeniinished it is then attached to the post on the end of an ordinarypontih and the article is then reheated and the end which has been heldby the blowpipe is opened and finished.

The article during this last finishing opera-V tion has been held by thepost on the end of the pontil and to divide the same from the post it isnecessary to give the pontil a sharp With this method of procedure,however, great care has to be eX- ercised in detaching the articles fromthe post, as the sudden shock very often breaks the lip or cracks theglobes, the percentage of breakage at this point being very great,especially in large work.

By the `use of my invention the ends of the articles which are finishedwhile they are still held by the blowpipe are adapted to be grasped bymy improved mechanical clutch on the end of a pontil in order that theoppon site ends of the article may be opened andV finished.

In theA drawings my improved clutch is shown mounted on the end of atube B, sliding upon an inner tube A. p By means of this slidingmovement the jaws of the clutch are opened and closed. Secured to theinner tube A is a stem A2, carrying a plate A, which is provided with anannular flange a, adapted to fit the lip of the base of the shade orglobe, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9. The plate A extendsbeyond this flange a and forms a peripheral flange or shoulder a',against which the edge of the lip of the globe or shade seats. Thesefianges a and a serve as guards to keep the lips of the globe in theirproper shape. The fiange a is beveled and the jaws of the clutch-leversare also beveled to correspond to the bevel of the lips of the globe orshade, so that when the jaws are closed down upon'the lip of the globethey will hold it firmly without distorting or crimping it.

The clutch-levers D are pivoted at d to a shoulder formed on the stemA2, which is carried by the inner tube A. This shoulder is slotted atintervals to receive the tongues d of the clutch-levers D, and it isalso provided with an annular groove, in which the pivotpins of thetongues of the clutch-levers lie. These tongues CZ are held in place bymeans of a collar A4, which is slipped over the stem A2 before the plateA is secured thereto, and is provided with slots a2 to allow for themovement of the tongues d' of the clutch-levers. This collar is securedin place by the inner tube A abutting against it.

On the tube B is a sleeve B, which is'preferably tapered, as shown, andsecured to its outer end is a spider Z?, which slides upon the stem A2and is provided with arms b', between which the clutchdevers pass, asshown in Figs. 2, 3, and '7, so that on the movement of the sleeve B onthe tube A the clutch-levers will be opened or closed.

The clutch is normally closed by reason of the pressure exerted by thespring c at the opposite end of the tube B, and this spring tends toforce the sleeve B up onto the clutchlevers. The spring c is confinedbetween the end of the tube Band amouthpiece a? on the tube, which issecured to both the tube A and a sleeve a5, which is mounted on the same`and which forms a casing to inclose the spring. The mouthpiece a2 issecured in place by means of a pin a4, driven through the same andthrough the tube A and sleeve A5.

IOO

The stem A has an air-passage c communicating with the interior of thetube A, so that when it is wished to blow the glass article, say fromthe form illustrated in full lines in Fig. l0 to that shown in dottedlines in the same figure, it can readily be accomplished, as the plate Aforms an air-tight joint with the lip of the glass article when it isclutched thereto. This is one of the important features of theinvention.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a modification in which the plate A has a flangein the shape shown at a8, which forms a cup for the reception of aprojection on the article to be iinished. In globes of this characterthe portion c is severed from the globe on the line 0c when it isfinished, leaving on the globe the lip x2.

It will be understood that diferent-sized plates and clutch-levers maybe employed for globes having lips of different diameters.

I claim as my invention-` 1. The combination in a clutch for holdingglass articles to be finished, of the inner tube, a plate secured to thestem carried by said tube, segmental clutch-levers pivoted to said stem,a sleeve, a spider mounted on said sleeve both the sleeve and spiderengaging the clutchlevers and a spring acting to force the sleeve uponthe clutch-levers, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the .inner tube A, a flanged plate A levers havingjaws forming an annular clutch, a tapered sleeve, a spider mounted onsaid sleeve and having arms passing between the clutch-levers, and aspring acting to force the sleeve upon the clutch-le vers, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM J. WILKINSON.

Witnesses:

MURRAY C. BOYER, FRANK E. BECHTOLD.

